Heartworms are parasites that are transmitted to dogs through mosquito bites and can be fatal if left untreated. Many owners forgo preventatives leaving their dogs at risk when just a $10/month pill will prevent heartworm disease. Even inside only dogs are at risk – infected mosquitoes can find their way into your house or bite your pup even in the short time he goes outside for a potty break.

Heartworms can cause lung disease, heart disease, failure in other organs, and even death if left untreated. Preventing heartworms is so easy and so much more important than people realize. You don’t want to end up having to put your dog through heartworm treatment, which is costly, difficult and painful for your dog.

Treatment for advanced heartworms consists of a series of injections which immediately begins to kill off the worms. As the worms die and begin to decompose, it’s critical that for about 4-6 weeks after the injections, the dog’s physical activity is kept to an absolute minimum. When heartworms die, pieces of the decomposing worm bodies can block blood vessels in the lungs, causing a potentially fatal blood clot, so your dog needs to be confined to a crate or a small area. No running, no playing and going outside only for potty breaks. From start to finish it can take up to 7 months to complete treatment.

Doesn’t $10/month for a heartworm preventative sound easier and better now?

Help Us Cure Their Heartworm Disease

Many of the dogs we rescue are Heartworm positive from living a life of neglect outside, caged 24/7 without access to clean water and basic vet care. Once a dog is infected, heartworms lodge in the dog’s heart, lungs and surrounding blood vessels, and continue to reproduce. The worms can cause lung disease, heart disease, organ failure and even death if left untreated. The good news is, heartworm disease is treatable! The treatment is expensive and difficult, averaging around $300 per dog and taking up to 7 months from start to finish. You can read more about the treatment here on our blog. Here is a cost breakdown of what’s involved:

To cure a heartworm positive dog is to give that dog his or her life back. It’s the ultimate second chance. A $300 donation cures one dog. Or you can make a donation of any amount to help the dogs below get their treatment. Please click the donate button above and specify the name of the dog you’d like to save in the notes section of PayPal. Once that dog’s treatment is covered, a heart will be placed on the photo of the dog.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

*dogs with a heart on their picture have had their heart worm treatment covered by donations